“Paddling and sailing out from Wailea was a dream — calm water, turtles everywhere, and our guide shared so much Hawaiian history.”
Verified Review
Launching from Polo Beach in South Maui, this two-hour canoe tour welcomes ages 4 and up (family-friendly and multi-generational) for an authentic taste of Hawaiian sailing culture. Guests assist in paddling or relax beneath the sail onboard the ‘Hina’, a beautifully crafted outrigger canoe. Your guides steer you to a calm reef teeming with sea turtles—often accompanied by seasonal whale sightings—and throughout the journey share stories of ancient navigation, canoe construction, and cultural lore. Snorkel gear, juice, and water are included, and group sizes are intentionally small (6–8 guests), making the experience personal, active, and richly connected to both ocean and island heritage.
GUEST REQUIREMENTS
For ages 4+, group size limited to 8 guests.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Easy paddling, sailing, and snorkeling
WHAT TO BRING
Swimsuit, towel, sun protection
CANCELLATION POLICY
Changes or cancellations must be made 24 hours prior.
WHAT GUESTS ARE SAYING
5.0★ from 60+ reviews on Google
Guests say this tour is one of Maui’s most authentic water experiences — part cultural immersion, part gentle ocean adventure. Reviews praise the warm crew who teach real Hawaiian sailing history without feeling scripted. Many love the calm snorkeling with turtles and the feeling of launching a canoe right from the sand, just as Hawaiians did for centuries. Guests often describe leaving with a deeper sense of connection to the island and the ocean that shaped it.
The tour includes snorkeling with sea turtles, seasonal whale watching, and learning Hawaiian history and culture. Juice/water and snorkel gear are provided. Our adventure starts on Polo Beach in beautiful Wailea, Maui, where you will learn first hand about ancient Hawaiian sailing canoe tradition, construction, and navigation. We then launch the Hawaiian Sailing Canoe 'Hina' straight from the beach just like the Hawaiians did in ancient times and sail on the gentle Wailea breeze for a unique perspective on the island of Maui.
Maui Sailing Canoe is a small, family-run company preserving the ancient art of Hawaiian sailing canoe travel. Each tour launches directly from Polo Beach in Wailea, using the traditional canoe ‘Hina,’ built and paddled in the spirit of Hawaii’s early ocean voyagers. The crew blends quiet cultural teaching with hands-on fun — paddling, sailing, and snorkeling alongside turtles while sharing the navigation stories that once connected these islands by stars, wind, and swell.
Location: Polo Beach, Wailea, Maui, HI 96753 — look for the Hawaiian sailing canoe ‘Hina’ on the sand near the Fairmont Kea Lani.
Check-In: Arrive 15 minutes before departure to meet your guide, get fitted with snorkel gear, and hear a short briefing on paddling and sailing traditions.Customers will receive a full refund or credit with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full price.
FOLIO TRAVELOGUE
A Cultural Canoe Journey in South Maui
The sun is just climbing above the Wailea coastline when we gather on the sand at Polo Beach—six guests, a sparkling outrigger canoe named Hina, and two guides ready to weave tradition into motion. We push the hull into waist-deep water and settle in: some paddle, others lean back under the sail, all sharing a rhythm older than any motorboat.
As Hina glides into open water, the guides explain the canoe’s design—how the outriggers balance and sails catch the slightest breeze. We pause in a sheltered cove where reef fish dart through coral gardens and a sea turtle surfaces with smooth curiosity.
“Under sail on Hina, the reef and sea life felt deeply known—as if the ocean itself was speaking.”
Snorkel gear handed out, we slip into warm water and drift beside reef fish and turtles; every turn reveals new color. When a whale spouts faintly offshore, everyone stops—our guides whisper origins of Polynesian voyagers who once did this same lookout, using stars to cross oceans. We all feel connected—not just to the water, but to lineage and sky.
Back on deck, juice and water are passed around. The canoe rocks gently under a golden light. No engines. No crowds. Just breath, paddle, and tradition—woven together into a morning that feels both grounding and timeless.
